Collapsible container



M. l. HAMM. COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER- gwucnmu man mm: 10. 1920.

M w 2. H 91 d ww m Mm a F n I w m M M. I; HAMM. COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER. APPUCAHON FILED JUNE 10. 1920.

1,409,101. Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

V A! g 4 d V MILTON I. HAM'M, 01 J OPLIN, MISSOURI.

Specification of Letters Patent.

COLLAPSIBLE CON TAIN ER.

Patented Mar. '7, 192.2.

Application filed June 10, 1920. Serial No. 387,963.

To all iii/1.0m it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, MILTON I. HAMM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Joplin, in the county'of Jasper and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Collapsible Con.- tainer, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a metallic container, and more particularly to the class of collapsible receptacles.

1e primary object of the invention is the provision of a container or receptacle of this character, wherein the body thereof is prefthe sides, ends, top and bottom can be readily and easily folded relative to. each other for the collapsing of thebody when the said receptacle or container is not in use, thereby enabling the convenient handling of the same for storage and transportation, the body when set up for use being adaptable for receiving various articles for the storage or transportation of the same.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a container or receptacle of this character, wherein the body thereof when set up is constructed and arranged so that the side and end walls will be securely fastened together to prevent displacement thereof in the use of the container or receptacle, the side and end walls being of novel form so as to properly fit together in the setting up of the container or receptacle A further object of the invention is the provision of a container or receptacle, wherein the side walls have fitted thereon a novel form of catch or latch device which will not interfere with the closing of the top when ongaging the end walls of the body and are readily accessible to permit the folding or collapsing of said container or receptacle.

A still further object of the invention is in construction, strong, pensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the novel features of construction, combination of elements and be more g specificain the accompanying drawlugs, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

igure 1 is a perspective view of a container or receptacle constructed in accord ance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal. sectional View thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view.

Figure 4 is an end elevation showing the top or lid open.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the top or lid broken away.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts' throughout the several views in the drawings:

eferring to the drawings in detail, A designates generally the body of the container or receptacle, and B the swinging top or lid thereof. The body A and also the top or lid B are preferably made from sheet metal, although the same may be made from other materials if found desirable and said body comprises a bottom 10, of substantially rectangular shape, side walls 11, constituting the front and back of said body and end walls 12, the walls 11 and 12 being swingingly connected to the bottom 10, preferably through the medium of strap hinges 13- having their leaves otherwise secured to the said walls and bottom respectively. The straps or leaves of the hinges 13 are relatively long, and thereby serve as reinforcements to both the bottom and side and end walls 11 and 12, as will be clearly apparent.

The end walls 12, are formed with inwardly bent flanges 14. which extend at right angles to said wall and constitute al ut ment strips for the side walls 11, when the body A is set up for use. The flanges H. are arranged at the opposite side edges of said end walls 12, and are adapted to lie outside of the side walls 11 when the body is set up for use so that the swing outwardly as the same abut the flanges 14, and are held against outward movement.

Formed in the upper portions of the end walls 12 and extending through the upper are indentations or depressions constituting keeper seats 15, which are also notched at 16, the latter being cut through the upper edges of said end walls, while, swingingly mounted 011 the side walls 11 at the inner faces thereof are latches or catches 17 hav or straps riveted or side walls cannotf 7 mg hook bills 18 adapted to engage in the seats 15, the latches 17 being designed to rest in the notches 16, when the hook bills 18 engage the seats so that the said latches 17 will not protrude beyond the upper edges of the end walls 12. When the latches '17 are engaged in the seats 15 the side and end walls 11 and 12 are detachably fastened together.

The top or lid 13 is swingingly connected to the body A on the side wall 11, constituting the back thereof through the medium of strap hinges 19, and this top or lid at the front and end wedges is formed with a. flange constituting a rim 20, adapted to overlap the side wall 11 constituting the front of the body and the end walls 12 thereof, when the top or lid B is in closed position.

Mounted on the side wall 11 constituting the front of the body A is a latch plate 21, having thereon keepers 22, while mounted upon the top of lid B are hasps 23. which are adapted to engage with the keepers 22 when the top or lid 13 is closed. The latch plate 21 carries thereon between the keepers 22, a pair of guides, in which are slidably fitted locking bolts, which are adapted to be moved into the keepers 22 for fastening of the hasps 23, engaged therewith, the look ing bolts being formed with finger engaging portions 26 and latching heads 27 respectively. The locking bolts are moved laterally into engaging and disengaging positions relative to the keepers 22, and in engaging positions, the same are turned for the locking thereof. 7

When it is desired to fold or collapse the container, or receptacle, it is only necessary to open the top or lid B and thereafter disengage the latches or catches 17 from engagement with the end walls 12, whereupon the side and end walls 11 and 12 can be folded outwardly and downwardly as will be clearly apparent.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction and manner of use of the container or receptacle will be clearly understood and therefore a more extended explanation has been omitted.

Y What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible container comprising a body, said body including a bottom wall and side and end walls hingedly connected to the bottom wall, the end walls having depressions formed in theouter faces thereof and slots formed in the depressed portions extending to the edges of the end walls, latches pivotally. connected with the side walls and engageable'in the slots to maintain the side andendwalls in operative position, a hinged cover for the bodyarranged torest upon the top edges of the side and end walls and acting, when in closed position, to prevent displacement of the latches from the slotted depressions, and flanges carried by the lid arranged to cover the depressions and conceal the latches when the lid is in closed position. 7

2. A collapsible container comprising a bottom wall and side and end walls hingedly conuected'to the bottom wall, the top edges of the end walls having inwardly depressed and slotted'recesses opening therein at points adjacent their vertical edges latches pivotally connected to the inner faces of said side walls and having hooked ends adapted for engagement in the said recesses of said end walls and having their free ends disposed fiush in the plane of the outer faces of the latter, a lid hingedly connected to one of the side walls and having side and end' flanges complemental to said side and end walls and adapted to engage over the outer faces thereof, whereby to conceal the exposed ends of said latches, and means for fastening said lid in closed position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature hereto. i

MILTON I. HAMM. 

